Pick for musical instruments



R.LCARPENTER L74L285 PICK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS [kx.3l,1929.

Filed May 6.192s

HVVENTDR. RIcHARDICA RPE NTER A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES RICHARD J. CARYENTER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA PICK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed May 6, 1925. Serial No. 28,403.

My invention comprises a pick for a guitar or other stringed musical instrument, comprising a thimble-like device of spring material with the tip end open, providing a grip for different sized fingers or for different fingers of the hand.

By a change in use of materials my invention could be used as a thimble of the sail makers type: that is, a thimble with the end open. My guitar pick is preferably constructed of celluloid formed on a taper with the edges overlapping and with a friction material such as cork, to form a grip. The lower end is shaped to give the proper type of pick for a guitar.

My invention will be more readily understood from the following description and drawings in which Figure 1 is a side View of the pick enlarged.

Figure 2 is a cross-section on the dotted line 2-2 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the pick as worn on the finger.

Figure 4 is a side view of a similar con struction forming a sail-makers thimble.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section of Figure .L on the line 5-5 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view of the thimble as worn, indicating its use.

The device as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has a body portion 1 preferably formed of celluloid or similar material cut with converging side edges so that when the edges are overlapped evenly as at 2, with the inner strip 3 extending considerably beyond the outer strip 4, the device will be somewhat cone-shaped. One side 5, as shown in Figure 1, which is designated the inner side in accordance with its being positioned on the in her side of the finger, as shown in Figure 3, is longer than the outer side 6. The lower or open end 7 therefore forms an acute angle with the side 5. The upper end 8 is substantially square across the sides, with the side 6 forming a more acute angle with the side 8 than the side 5.

In a vertical section at right angles to that shown in Figure 1, the edge 8 and the two edges of the truncated cone will form substantially equal angles. The inner overlapping edge 8 is preferably beveled to give a close lit, and a layer of cork 9 or other trio-- tion material is glued on the inside upper edge, extending downwardly from the edge 8. This causes the device to grip tightly on the finger.

The manner of use of my devicevwill be obvious from Figure 3 in that the lower corner 10, formed by the meeting angle of the side 5 on the end 7, is used to pick the strings of the instrument.

The construction of the open-ended or sail makers thimble of Figures 4, 5 and 6, are substantially the same as that described, except that the device is preferably made of steel, with suflicient resiliency to hold it tightly on a persons finger, the upper outside edge is shown with a bead 11, having a knurled part 12 extending part way down to a bead 13. he lower end 7 may be formed at, an angle if desired, so that the tip of the finger may extend part way through.

In this device it is desirable to have the device made with sufficient resiliency and overlapping to allow the tip of the finger to be pressed well outside, so that the sensitive ness of the end of the finger may be made use of. The cork is preferably inset slightly, as indicated at 14, so that the overlapping parts may readily slide over the cork.

It will be obvious that in some cases it may be desirable to make the guitar pick of metal in order to give a different tone or effeet in playing instruments, and if desired the picking end may be curved inwardly, as indicated at 15 in Figures 4 and 6. A device made according to my invention may be con siderably modified to suit different purposes for which it may be used, and the material of which the device is made may be altered in accordance with the specific purpose.

Having described my invention, what I claim is A pick for musical instruments comprising a conical shaped resilient sleeve for firmly gripping a finger, the outer end of said sleeve being cut for forming an acute angle with a portion of the side Wall of the sleeve, whereby the portion of the sleeve adjacent to the acute angle forms a pick; the sleeve being so rolled that the joining edges thereof slidably overlap each other; and at friction lining disposed on the inside of said sleeve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RICHARD J CARPENTER. 

